“By following a classic self-drive route, having landed at Gaborone, Maun or Kasane from Johannesburg, travellers can experience a dramatic shift from stark salt pans to lush inland deltas,” says Charles Edelstein, founder and director of Travex.com, a booking platform and travel operator specialising in guided photography tours and workshops.

“When you click on our explore Botswana link, you’ll find a linked map showcasing the main points of interest (POIs) to keep in mind. Follow our route, or create your own – just be sure to click through to each POI, such as the Okavango Delta here, so that you don’t miss anything special from a journeying or photography perspective.”

A bit more detail about four key Botswana highlights

The Stark Beauty of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
A first significant POI will surely be the Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the largest salt flats in the world. The landscape is an otherworldly, blindingly white expanse that stretches to the horizon.
What to Do: Take a guided 4×4 excursion onto the crust of the Nwetwe or Sua Pans, or drive out to the isolated, boulder-strewn oasis of Kubu Island.
Photography Tip: Capitalise on the absolute minimalism of the environment. Capture the contrast of ancient, skeletal Baobab trees against the cracked white earth. Use the dramatic golden hour light to photograph resident meerkats standing guard against the setting sun.

The Wild Heart of Savuti and Moremi Game Reserve
Next up, be sure to embrace the legendary Savuti Marsh, renowned for its intense predator activity – particularly lions and hyenas. Continue into the Moremi Game Reserve, which protects the eastern reaches of the Okavango Delta.
What to Do: Test your deep-sand driving skills along the rugged 4×4 tracks. Keep an eye out for rare African wild dogs, tracking prey through the mopane woodlands.
Photography Tip: Track predators during the cooler morning golden hours. Look for low-angle compositions of lions walking directly down the sandy tracks or leopards draped over horizontal tree branches.

The Abundant Waters of the Chobe Riverfront
Heading up towards Kasane brings you to Chobe National Park, famous for hosting Africa’s densest concentration of elephants. The riverfront is a vibrant contrast to the arid pans, attracting thousands of animals daily.
What to Do: Park your 4×4 and swap the driver’s seat for a sunset boat cruise along the Chobe River.
Photography Tip: Use a telephoto lens from the stable platform of a boat to capture intimate frames of elephants swimming across the river, hippos yawning in mid-stream, and fish eagles launching from dead branches into the golden water.

The Oasis of the Okavango Delta
Your journey comes full circle around Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a massive labyrinth of lagoons and channels.
What to Do: Glide silently through lily-covered waterways in a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) pushed by a local poler. To understand the scale of the ecosystem, book a scenic helicopter or fixed-wing flight over the delta.
Photography Tip: Bring a wide-angle lens up in the air to document the intricate, vein-like water channels and elephant paths cutting through the emerald reeds from above.

Average costs for a 4-star self-drive trip

“Executing this Botswana trip while staying in 4-star luxury lodges and permanent tented camps provides the thrill of the wilderness, without sacrificing on comfort,” reveals Edelstein. “Take a look at the table below for an idea; however, a mid-range to premium 10-to-12-day self-drive lodge itinerary typically ranges from R45 000 to R75 000 per person sharing, depending heavily on the season.”